Luxury World Cruise: Notable Travel Stops on Seabourn

For many travelers, a luxury world cruise would be the ultimate way to see the world. With no busy airport lines or long layovers, traveling the globe via cruise ship is relaxing and luxurious. Seabourn Cruise Line’s World Cruise takes guests on a 146-day journey to some of the world’s most amazing destinations. Among the 60-plus ports this dream vacation visits, these are our favorite stops on Seabourn.

Mindelo

After its departure from Miami and a brief trip through the Carribean, the Seabourn luxury world cruise does a trans-Atlantic crossing to land in Mindelo, Cape Verde. Located on the island of São Vicente, it is the cultural center of Cape Verde and surely boasts the most charming city. After exploring the city, take a taxi to nearby Monte Verde and hike to the top for exquisite panoramic views.

Malé

Malé is the capital of the Maldives, a republic comprised of over 1,190 islands in the Indian Ocean. With a population of just 150,000, the Maldives is an unspoiled paradise of white sand beaches and beautiful atolls. Malé is the most developed city in the Maldives. It boasts modern high-rise buildings, but no beaches. Within the city, a visit to The Old Friday Mosque is a must. It was built in 1656 by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandhar. With its intricately carved coral stone, the mosque is famed for its fine lacquer work and elaborate woodcarvings. Visitors to some of the nearby beaches should be aware that coverings from shoulder to the knee are required even at the beach in this Muslim country unless you are at a private resort. The entire city is one of the must-see stops on Seabourn.

Hamilton Island

Australian destination Hamilton Island is a favorite stop for scuba divers looking to explore the Great Barrier Reef and you will love exploring it during this luxury world cruise.

Hamilton Island is one of Australia’s most desirable holiday destinations. With its white beaches, famous teal waters and an abundance of marine life, “Hamo” – as it’s affectionately known to locals – is the largest and busiest inhabited island in the Whitsundays, an archipelago of 74 scenic islands off the Queensland coast. Hamilton Island has a population of about 1000 and its own airport, post office and supermarket, as well as a range of accommodation options for visitors. It is a convenient base from which to explore nearby Whitehaven Beach, Heart Reef and the Great Barrier Reef.

Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa is a bustling independent city located in the Philippines. Seabourn has partnered with UNESCO to offer its luxury world cruise passengers a chance to explore the nearby Subterranean River National Park. This park has one of the world’s most impressive cave systems.

This park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river’s distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full ‘mountain-to-sea’ ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia. –UNESCO

Phuket

Finally, as one of the stops on Seabourn, passengers can debark to explore Phuket, Thailand with its stunning white beaches. Under the crystal clear waters lie nearby Ko Phi-Phi’s popular dive sites and the national-park-protected Similan Islands. For those wishing to also explore the culture over the beaches, there is much to see.

East-coast capital Phuket Town delights with its eye-opening museums, Peranakan cooking, Chinese shrines and historic mansions and shophouses done in characteristic Sino-Portuguese style. Major temples stand in Chalong and Thalang, while two national parks and a smattering of wildlife sanctuaries await exploration in the island’s northern reaches. –Lonely Planet